Manuel Neuer Reflects on Near Transfer to Arsenal

A Glimpse into the Past

Bayern Munich’s goalkeeper Manuel Neuer recently shared insights about his almost-transfer to Arsenal during his youth.

The Conversation

The 39-year-old goalkeeper discussed this near-miss on the podcast ‘At Broski.’

Neuer reminisced: “After playing for the U19 team, FC Köln expressed significant interest in me—as did Arsenal FC. Back then, Arsène Wenger was still coaching and was known for his multilingual abilities.”

Thoughts on Going Abroad

Neuer expressed his reservations about moving overseas, stating, “I didn’t want to leave my home country because I anticipated the challenges of being a young goalkeeper abroad.”

Ultimately, Neuer chose to remain with FC Schalke, where he rose to prominence in senior football during the 2006/07 season. In 2011, he transitioned to FC Bayern, where he continues to play and has achieved notable success as a 2014 World Cup champion.